Mechanical pencil



Aug. 2 0, 1929. R. H. INGERSOLL MECHANICAL EENGIL Filed May l. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet .l

Aug. 20, 1929 R. H. iNGERSOLL.

MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed May l. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 20, 1`929.-

UNITED STATES 1,725,585 PATENT OFFICE.`

ROBERT H. INGERSOLL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; CHARLES S. SMITH, F LANSING-f MICHI- GAN, AND FREDERIC C. LEUBUSCHER, OF ESSEX FALLS, NEW JERSEY, EXECUTORS 0F SAID ROBERT H. INGERSOLL, DECEASED, ASSIGNORS TO ROBT. H. INC., 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

INGEBsoLL,

MECHANIGAL PENCIL.. L

Application med may 1, 192e. serial No. 106,022. l i

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in mechanical pencils, and more particularly to the mechanism for advancing the lead and for locking the lead 5 when positioned for writing.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanical pencil of the above type with mechanism adapted to feed the lead forward, and to grip the lead and lock the same when in position for writing, said gripping means operating to engage and lock the lead when the feeding mechanism is at the forward end of its movement.

A. further -object of the invention isto provide a mechanical pencil of thevabove type wherein the lead is fed forward by means which frictionally engages the lead,.

and wherein said frictional means is forced into locking engagement with the lead when 2o said feeding mechanism is at the forward end of its stroke.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical pencil of the above type, with means for gripping the lead when the feeding mechanism is retracted so that a new length of lead can be fed forward on the forward movement of said feeding means.

A still further object of lthe invention is to provide a feeding and locking means for the lead of the above type, wherein said feeding and locking means is operated by a screw which holds the locking means in firm gripping engagement with the lead.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

ln the drawings- Figure 1 is a sectional view through the 4o mechanical pencil embod ing my improvements with the lead fed forward and clamped in writing position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the1 Fiv 5 is' an enlarged sectional detail lenwise of the pencil shown in Fig. 4, but wit the clamping and feeding means retracted;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. l, but with a modified form of means for moving the inner,A casin lengthwise for the feeding and., 0a 't vshaped end is a passage through which the osition. `The Y lea is directed to writing writing end of the casing o the pencil is tapered to al point and has an 'opening' throughv which the'lead is to be projected. In the tapered end of the casing ere is a split sleeve, and the lead passes through this split sleeve. Means is provided for forcing the split sleeve against the inner tapered wall of the casing and thus it is that the split sleeve is caused to grip and :hold the lead in writing position. The split sleeve is attached to a member which is capable of being moved endwise of the pencil, and it is this split sleeve which has the passage therethrough leading to the magazine in ich the leads are stored. The split sleeve is also provided withmeans for frictionally gripping the lead, so that when the split sleeve is moved forward to clamp .the lead through the frictional engagement therewith, the lead will be moved forward, and thus projected through the end of the encil, and after it is so projected, then t e split sleeve clamps and holds it in writing position. Associated with this s lit sleevels a ipping device which gri s t e lead when t e split sleeve is retracte so that the split sleeve can move along the lead to get a new frictional grip thereon whereby when the sleeve moves forward the new length of lead will be projected from the end of the encil. AT is split sleeve is moved back an forth in one embodiment ofthe invention by a screw. The

screw for moving the lit sleeve may be located at the lower en 4of the magazine for the leads, in which case, the casing forming the magazine is capable of being turned re ative to the ta ered end of the encil for the purpose o movin the tapere end of the pencil and the sp 't sleeve-relativel to each other. This screw may-be located at the upper end of the magazine, in whichl case, an inner casing is provided extending the full length of the magazine, which inner casing is attached to the split sleeve, so that Y, when the inner casing ismoved endwise, the

. i the thumb, thus producing a mechanical pencil of the punch type.

Referring more in etail to the drawings, I have shown my improved mechanical pencil as consisting of an outer casing 1 which is provided at the lower'end thereof with a tapered section 2 having an opening in its end for the lead 3 of the pencil. In Figures.

1 to 3, inclusive, there is an inner g 4 n which forms a magazine for thjeads..

" This inner casing 4 has acone-shape inner v which extends all the wa end 5. This cone-sha ed inner end is formed in a sleeve 6 which is threaded into the inner casin so that the sleeve is rigidly connected to t e inner casing 4. Attached to this sleeve 6 is a split sleeve 7. The sleeve 7 is split from the outer end thereof to a point indicated at 8 in the drawings. There is a passage 9 through this split sleeve y from the magazine to the outer end o the split sleeve. The outer end of this split sleeve is tapered at 10 so as to conform substantially to the inner ta ered surface 11 of the tapered section 2 o the pencil.

The inner caslng 4 is provided with a screw thread 12 at its upper end. Projecting' into this inner casing is a sleeve 13 which is provided with a screw thread 14 adapted to mesh with the thread 12. The sleeve 13 has a central passage 15` therethrough. A cap 16 frictionally engages the outer end of .the sleeve and when removed, leads may be inserted through I magazine in t e inner casin the passage 15 into the 4. Thus it is that the magazine is rep enished with leads. The outer Casin 1v has the extreme upper end thereof provi ed with ian inwardly projecting flange 17. There is anv annular vgroove 18 in the sleeve 13, and the inturned ange 17 engages said oove 18 and holds the sleeveand cap 16 ment on the outer casing 1. Thus it is that when the cap is turned, it will turn the sleeve, and thesleeve through the threads thereon, meshing with the threads on the inner casing 4, will move the inner casing 4 endwise om endwise movewhich is rigidly attached thereto. The split I end of the sleeve 7 frictionally engages the vlead 3, and therefore, whe the split sleev'e is moved forward throug the turning of the cap 16, the lead will be carried forward through thisA frictional engagement until it projects beyond the end of the pencil. The continued movement of the split sleeve, however, will bring'the tapered end 10 thereof into contact with the inner tapered surface -11 of the tapered section2 of the encil, ,and this will cause the split sleeve to 'rmly grip the lead and hold it against any pressure on the Aend of the lead outside of the pencil. When this split sleeve is retracted, means is provided for holdingA the lead so that the frictional engagement of the split sleeve on the lead will yield, .and thus it is that the' split sleeve will move along the lead for a new frictional grip thereon. This is accomplished by means of grip ing pawls or dogs 19. These dogs` are 1n t e form of fingers. The dogs are mounted on a rino` 20 which slips over the split sleeve and rictionally engages thesame. The dogs extend partly into the recess between the split sections of the sleeve. Rigidly connected to the outer casing is a member 2l. This member 21 has a cone-shaped end 22.A Attached to the member 21 is asleeve 23 having an inwardly projecting shoulder 24. The inner ends of the dogs 19 are taperedat 25, and said dogs are provided with shoulders 26 intermediate the ends thereof. When the parts lare in the position shown in Fig. 1, the lead is clamped, and this is brought about by the movement of the s lit sleeve downward to this clamping posltion. During this endwise movef ment of the split sleeve downward, the dogs were carried along therewith until the shoulders 26 engage the shoulder 24 on the sleeve 23. This prevents further movement of the dogs, and it also tilts the dogs until they are entirely out of engagement with the lead. At least, they are moved to a point where they do not in any way grip or mar the lead. When the split sleeve is moved up to the position shown in Fig. 2, these dogs 19 are carried along with the split sleeve until the tapered ends 25 of the dogs engage the coneshaped end 22 of the member 21. When the dogs thus engage this cone-shaped member, they will be tilted until the forward ends of the dogs engage the lead. This causes the lead to be gripped with suiicient tensionl along the lead in an upward direction, not,

withstanding L, the slight frictional engagement thereon, until a new position is obtained ilo upon the lead, so that when the splitsleeve is again moved forward, the lead will be carried alongl with it and projected from the end of the pencil.

In order to prevent the inner casing 4 from rotating when the cap and the sleeve carrying the screw are rotated, I have provided the member 21 withy spaced arms 27. The sleeve is also provided with spaced arms 28. These arms are free to moveendwise of each other. The arms 27 are stationary because they are rigid with the sleeve or member 21 which is fixed to the outercasing. Therefore, the Varms 28 can rotate when the screw rotates, and this will insure that the inner casing is moved endwise and not rotated when the cap 16 is turned.

In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention, in that the screwfor moving the split 'sleeve endwise is located adjacent the lower end of the pencil, and the lower end of thema azine, rather than at theuppei end thereo In this form of the invention,

there is no inner casing. The outer casing 1 forms the magazine for the leads, and has a sleeve 6 attached thereto provided witha cone-shaped recess 5 leading to a passage in the split sleeve 7. The split sleeve 7 is threaded into the member 6. The dogsl for holding the lead, and the split sleeve for frictionally engaging the lead and moving it forward and for clamping the lead when in writing position, are exactly the same as in the construction shown in Figures 1 to y3, and therefore, similar reference letters have been applied to these figures. The sleeve 6, is, however, extended in the present form of the. invention and provided with a screw thread 29. The outer casing 1 'is formed in two pieces. The lower section 1n carries the tapered end section 2 of the pencil. This. lower section 1 is providedy with a screw thread 30'on its inner face, which meshes with the screwrv thread 29. When the cap which is now fixed on the outer casing 1 is turned, it willcause the `s1eeve`6 to rotate, and this will eitherl move the screw 29 into or out of the screw 30 dei pending upon which way the cap .is turned. Thus it is that the section 1a is moved toward or away from the section 1. The split sleeve is fixed to the section 1, and therefore, will be moved toward and from the in er tapered face 11 of thesection la. I

The operation of the structure shown in Figures 4 and 5 for thefeeding and clamping Aof the lead is precisely the same as that shown in Figures 1 to 3, the only difference being that the split sleeve is moved relative `to the tapered end section by a screw at the lower end of the magazine instead of by a screw at the upper end of the magazine.

In Fig. 6 ofthe drawings, I have shown a slightly modified form of the, invention wherein the split sleeve is moved toward the tapered end of the pencil for feeding and clamping the lead by a cap at the upper end, of the pencil, which cap slides lengthwise of the casing instead of rotating with the casing. This makes what is generally referred to as a punch type of pencil.1 In this form of the invention there is an outer casing 1 and an inner casing- 4, as in the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2. A t the tapered end of the pencil, there is a split sleeve 7 which is threaded into the member 6 which in turn is threaded into the inner casing 4. The lead 'is indicated at'3 in the drawings, and the holding dogs are indicated at 19. This portion of the pencil is precisely the same as that shown in Fig. 1, and the lead is fed and clamped in writing position by an endwise movement of the casing 4, the same as in Fig. 1. This endwise movement of the casing 4, however, isY accomplishedv in a different way. It is brought about by means of a cap 29 which has a sliding engagement with the casing 1 and is capableof moving endwise thereon. A rack bar 30 is secured to the upper end of the inner casing 4. The rack bar 31 is secured to the cap 29. These rack bars both mesh with a gear 32 pivoted at 33 inthe outer casing 1. It will readily be seen that when the cap is pressed down as viewed in Fig. 6, it will turn the gear 32 and the turning of the gear 32 cooperating with the rack bar 30 will move the inner casing upward When the rack bar 31moves in the other direction,

.then the casing v4 is moved downward. A

spring 34 is placed in the. end cap, and bears at one endv against a slotted partition 35 through the slot in whichthe rack bars 30 and 31 pass. This Spring is provided with a series of curved portions intermediate its ends, so that it is a tension spring normally forcing the cap 29 upward as viewed in Fig. 6. This movement of the cap upward causes a movement of the inner casing 4 downward, and this clamps the lead, but it feeds the lead forward' before the lead is clamped.` When a new length'of lead is desired, the cap 29 is forced down Aby hand pressure, and as the cap slides down the outer casing, it willy retract the inner casing, drawing the split sleeve back from the inner tapered end of the pencil. It is at this time that ythe lead is held from movement "by the dogs 19 and the split sleeve will move cific arrangement ofxdogs'for preventing the lead from being retracted, when the split sleeve is moved away from the end of the casing for getting a new feeding grip on the lead, it will be understood that other schemes may be used for pregventing the movement of lthe lead with the 'split sleeve.

It is obvious that minor changes in the detls of construction may be made without dep ting from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-A ters Patent is l 1. A mechanical-pencil comprising a casing having a tapered end, a split sleeve in said casing having a passage therethrough for the lead, means for moving the sleeve in a direction toward the tapered end of the .casing for dprojecting the `lead. to writing position an for clamping the lead for holding the same in writing position and for retracting the sleeve so as to release said clamping means, said sleeve having means for frictionally grippingthe lead, and devices cooperating with said sleeve for holding the lead from movement when the sleeve 1s retracted. l

2. A mechanical pencil comprising a casing having a tapered end provided with an` inner tapered surface, a split sleeve having the ends thereof tapered and adapted to eugage the inner tapered surface of the end of the pencil so that saijd split sleeve is forced into ygripping contact with the lead,` said sleeve having a passage therethrough for the lead and means for frictionally'tgripping the lead, and means for moving sal splitsleeve so as to project the lead into writing position and for causing said split sleeve to clamp and hold the lead in writingposition.

'3. A mechanical pencilcoxnprismg a vcasing having a tapered end provided with an inner tapered surface, a split sleeve'having. the ends thereof tapered and adapted to engage the inner tapered surface of the end of the pencil so thatsaid split sleeve is forced into .gripping contact with the lead, said sleeve having 'a passage therethroughfor the lead and means for frictionally gripping the lead, means for movin said -split sleeve so as to project the lead linto writing position and for causing said split sleeve to clamp and hold the lead-in writing position, and,

means cooperating with said split vsleeve whereby when ysaid split sleeve. i retracted, the lead is heldfrom movement vso that said split sleeveobtains a new frictional grip upon the lead.

R 4. A mechanical pencil comprising a cas-ll ing having a tapered end, a split sleeve in said casing: having a passage therethrough for thev lead, said split sleeve having means :for frictionally gripping the lead, means for moving the sleeve in adirection toward the i tapered end of thecasing for projecting the lead to writing position, said means for moving 'the' sleeve including a screw thread, sind devices for turning -sai moving said splitsieeve into and out of conytact with the tapered end of the casing for clamping the lead for holding the same in writing position.

5. A mechanical pencil comprising a casing having a tapered end, a split sleeve in the casing having a passage therethrough,

for the lead, said split sleeve having means for frictionally gripping the lead, means carried by the casing and engaging the 'lead in thewsplit sleeve when the s lit sleeve is moved away from' the tapere end of the pencil for holding the lead so'that the sleeve will move along the lead, and means for moving said split sleeve toward the ta ered end of the pencil for projecting the lea intov screw thread forwriting position and for clamping said lead in writing position.

(i. A mechanical pencil comprising a casing having a tapered'end, a split sleeve in the ,casing Ahaving a passage therethrough for the lead, said split sleeve having means for 'frictionally gripping the lead, means carried by the casing and engaging the lead in the split sleeve when the split sleeve is moved away from the tapered end of the v pencil for holding the lead so that the sleeve will move along the lead, and means for moving said splitsleeve Atoward the ta ered end of the pencil for projecting the lea into writing position and for clamping said lead in writing position, said last-named means including cooperating screw threads, which, when rotated, force the split sleeve into engagement withv the tapered end of the pencil and positivelyhold said split sleeve in engagementtherewith so that the lead is rmly clamped in writing position.

IPA mechanical pencil comprisin a casing having a tapered end, a split' s eeve in said casing havmg ay passage therethrough for the lead, said split sleeve having means for frictionally vgripping the lead, means,

ment withy the ta ered end of the pencil for! clamping the leav in writinf positlon.

In testimony whereof, x my signature.

f RoBERT HxINGEaso-LL. 

